Pentium E5400
VS
Core i3-3229Y

Pentium E5400 vs Core i3-3229Y

Intel

Pentium E5400

2 Cores2 Thrd65 WWMax: 2.7 GHz2009
VS
Intel

Core i3-3229Y

2 Cores4 Thrd512 WWMax: 1.4 GHz2013

Performance Spectrum - CPU

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The Pentium E5400 is positioned at rank 830 and the Core i3-3229Y is on rank 437, so the Core i3-3229Y offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Pentium E5400

#1
Ryzen 9 7950X
MSRP: $194|Avg: $20
17024%
#2
Core i9-10900T
MSRP: $120|Avg: $5
16086%
#3
Ryzen 3 PRO 4355GE
MSRP: $423|Avg: $5
11680%
#4
Ryzen Threadripper 3960X
MSRP: $1399|Avg: $85
3519%
#5
Ryzen 9 9950X
MSRP: $649|Avg: $129
2787%
#6
Ryzen 5 8400F
MSRP: $303|Avg: $55
2438%
#7
Ryzen 7 PRO 2700
MSRP: $299|Avg: $60
1397%
#8
Ryzen 5 2600X
MSRP: $229|Avg: $55
1378%
#9
Ryzen 3 PRO 5350G
MSRP: $150|Avg: $60
1255%
#10
Core Ultra 5 245KF
MSRP: $294|Avg: $189
1255%
#11
Ryzen 5 5500
MSRP: $159|Avg: $85
1241%
#12
Ryzen 5 3600
MSRP: $199|Avg: $80
1207%
#13
Core i3-9100E
MSRP: $202|Avg: $30
1190%
#14
Core Ultra 5 245K
MSRP: $319|Avg: $200
1186%
#15
Core i3-8300T
MSRP: $138|Avg: $25
1175%
#295
Core i9-7940X
MSRP: $1399|Avg: $275
99%
#829
Core i5-4570R
MSRP: $250|Avg: $20
100%
#830
Pentium E5400
MSRP: $55|Avg: $49
100%
#831
A6-3650
MSRP: $115|Avg: $20
100%
#832
Core i7-4770R
MSRP: $360|Avg: $89
100%
#834
Core i7-2600
MSRP: $294|Avg: $50
99%
#835
Pentium G870
MSRP: $86|Avg: $15
99%
#836
Athlon II X2 210e
MSRP: $60|Avg: $28
99%
#837
Pentium G645
MSRP: $80|Avg: $15
99%
#839
Pentium G630
MSRP: $75|Avg: $46
99%
#840
Core i5-2550K
MSRP: $235|Avg: $46
98%
#841
Athlon II X4 600e
MSRP: $100|Avg: $20
98%
#842
Core i5-6442EQ
MSRP: $250|Avg: $250
98%
#843
Core i7-4785T
MSRP: $306|Avg: $32
98%
#844
Core i5-4690S
MSRP: $306|Avg: $189
98%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Per Dollar Core i3-3229Y

#425
Atom x5-Z8300
MSRP: $20|Avg: N/A
579%
#426
Atom Z3735G
MSRP: $17|Avg: N/A
570%
#427
Core i5-480M
MSRP: $81|Avg: $77
523%
#428
Core i5-460M
MSRP: $80|Avg: $129
521%
#429
Core i5-2540M
MSRP: $266|Avg: $10
516%
#431
Core i5-450M
MSRP: $32|Avg: $31
499%
#432
Core i3-380M
MSRP: $49|Avg: $25
478%
#433
Core i5-430M
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $33
477%
#434
Core 2 Duo T6600
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $4
464%
#437
Core i3-3229Y
MSRP: N/A|Avg: N/A
100%
Based on actual market prices and performance synthetic scores.

Performance Comparison

About PassMark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

Performance Trade-off: The Pentium E5400 leads in gaming performance. However, the Core i3-3229Y is the stronger candidate for professional workloads, offering 0.7% greater multi-core processing power.
InsightPentium E5400Core i3-3229Y
Gaming
Superior gaming performance
Lower gaming performance
Workstation
Weaker in multi-core tasks
Better multi-core power
Price
⚠️ Higher cost ($49)
More affordable ($0)
Longevity
🛑 Legacy (Wolfdale (2008−2010) / 45 nm)
🛑 Legacy (Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) / 22 nm)

💎 Value Proposition

InsightPentium E5400Core i3-3229Y
Cost Efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost
⚠️ Higher cost ($49)
More affordable ($0)

Performance Check

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Pentium E5400 and Core i3-3229Y

Intel

Pentium E5400

The Pentium E5400 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 18 January 2009 (16 years ago). It is based on the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 2.7 GHz, with boost up to 2.7 GHz. L3 cache: 0 kB. L2 cache: 2 MB (total). Built on 45 nm process technology. Socket: LGA775. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR1, DDR2, DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,007 points. Launch price was $55.

Intel

Core i3-3229Y

The Core i3-3229Y is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 8 January 2013 (12 years ago). It is based on the Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) architecture. It features 2 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 1.4 GHz, with boost up to 1.4 GHz. L3 cache: 3 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: BGA1023. Thermal design power (TDP): 13 Watt. Memory support: DDR3. Passmark benchmark score: 1,014 points. Launch price was $250.

Processing Power

The Pentium E5400 packs 2 cores / 2 threads, matching the Core i3-3229Y's 2 cores. Boost clocks reach 2.7 GHz on the Pentium E5400 versus 1.4 GHz on the Core i3-3229Y — a 63.4% clock advantage for the Pentium E5400 (base: 2.7 GHz vs 1.4 GHz). The Pentium E5400 uses the Wolfdale (2008−2010) architecture (45 nm), while the Core i3-3229Y uses Ivy Bridge-Y (2013) (22 nm). In PassMark, the Pentium E5400 scores 1,007 against the Core i3-3229Y's 1,014 — a 0.7% lead for the Core i3-3229Y. L3 cache: 0 kB on the Pentium E5400 vs 3 MB (total) on the Core i3-3229Y.

FeaturePentium E5400Core i3-3229Y
Cores / Threads
2 / 2
2 / 4
Boost Clock
2.7 GHz+93%
1.4 GHz
Base Clock
2.7 GHz+93%
1.4 GHz
L3 Cache
0 kB
3 MB (total)
L2 Cache
2 MB (total)+700%
256K (per core)
Process
45 nm
22 nm-51%
Architecture
Wolfdale (2008−2010)
Ivy Bridge-Y (2013)
PassMark
1,007
1,014
Geekbench 6 Single
350
Geekbench 6 Multi
657
🧠

Memory & Platform

The Pentium E5400 uses the LGA775 socket (PCIe 1.1), while the Core i3-3229Y uses BGA1023 (PCIe 3.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

FeaturePentium E5400Core i3-3229Y
Socket
LGA775
BGA1023
PCIe Generation
PCIe 1.1
PCIe 3.0+173%
Max RAM Speed
DDR3L-1600
Max RAM Capacity
32 GB
RAM Channels
2
ECC Support
PCIe Lanes
16
🔧

Advanced Features

Virtualization: not specified (Pentium E5400) / VT-x, EPT (Core i3-3229Y). The Core i3-3229Y includes integrated graphics (HD Graphics 4000), while the Pentium E5400 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i3-3229Y targets Budget. Direct competitor: Core i3-3229Y rivals Athlon Silver 3050GE.

FeaturePentium E5400Core i3-3229Y
Integrated GPU
Yes
IGPU Model
HD Graphics 4000
Unlocked
No
AVX-512
No
Virtualization
VT-x, EPT
Target Use
Budget